Hi Sue (et all)

I work in a public library that is attached to a coffee shop (approx 50,000
members). There is a window on the library side which patrons can order
coffee and food. The coffee shop also opens out into a foyer and large
glass window area that over looks a park (very picturesque!). Apparently
the owner has a five year lease agreement with council and the first two
years lease is cheap in order to establish up the business. From our
perspective it works well, as they place lids on any drinks people take into
the library and patrons generally clean up after themselves with the cups
(believe it or not), the library does nothing. It is open longer hours than
the library is, and the food is not bad.

Other libraries within the state that I work have variations on this theme.
Ranging from basic to what we do
- cafe bar (insert money into slot automatic cup comes down, press button of
what you want from hot chocolate to coffee) requires very little maintenance
apart from filling up the different powders. One large cost at outset and
small on-going cost which is budgeted for.
- drink machines and food machines (require very little staff maintenance -
apart from when people steal them).
- coffee shop in foyer before people enter the library (food and drinks are
not encouraged), however I can say from experience that this is not too
great as they only operate for approx 4-5 hours per weekday and not on
weekend! They also owned a coffee shop over the road.. which is why the
hours were short.
- peculator going all day which library staff were required to keep topping
up. It is a small library and one of the regular duties of the staff (not
overly liked by the 3 staff who work there).

Good luck with your study - they are worth having just for that additional
experience when you go the library and feel like having a coffee while
reading the paper or latest magazine.


Helen Kwaka
Tea Tree Gully Library - South Australia
http://www.ttglibrary.sa.gov.au/



----- Original Message -----
From: "Sue Helm" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2003 8:59 PM
Subject: Coffee bars in public libraries


> Has anyone in the public library sector any experience of providing coffee
> bars in libraries? We have been asked to produce a feasibility study on
> providing refreshment facilities to the public in our libraries in Dudley.
> Information found so far is that these are often located in the largest
> city public libraries rather than smaller town libraries. Have any local
> authorities managed to provide such facilities in a smaller library and if
> so what were the pitfalls? Was there any partnership working and were
> there any franchise agreements involved?
> I will post replies to the list.
> Sue Helm
> Management Support & Staff Development Officer
> Dudley Library
> 01384 815572